For more than a decade, Conroe has been home to one of the state’s most popular forums for showcasing veteran musical performers and undiscovered songwriting talent.

A Point Aquarius man training for a kayaking expedition spent more than 30 minutes in 57-degree Lake Conroe waters Friday before being rescued by a friend and a Precinct 1 Marine Division deputy.

In an era of rising unemployment and declining tax revenues, Conroe officials are encouraged by the addition of new retail business in the community.

For anyone casually passing by Heritage Park in downtown Conroe Saturday afternoon, it may have appeared as if downtown was hosting a meeting of the United Nations.

WASHINGTON — The House’s chief Democratic headcounter said Sunday he hadn’t rounded up enough votes to pass President Barack Obama’s health care overhaul heading into a make-or-break week, even as the White House’s top political adviser said he was “absolutely confident” in its prospects.

Montgomery County Right To Life Montgomery County Right To Life will host a Student Oratory Contest April 10. Check-in begins at 9 a.m. at Covenant Christian School, located at 4503 N. Interstate 45. High school juniors and seniors are eligible to participate.

DALLAS — Dallas police say a struggle between officers and a family disturbance suspect left the man dead from police gunfire.

CIUDAD JUAREZ, Mexico — Three people with ties to the American consulate were killed in a drug-plagued Mexican city, including a U.S. couple shot to death within sight of the border with their baby in their back seat, officials said Sunday.

KILLEEN — Roy Murray of Killeen calls his weekly appointment at the Lions Club Senior Center “medidaion standing.”

Ted Stanley feels a sense of responsibility to not only his family and faith, but also his community. That is why he has served The Woodlands community on various boards for several years.

Solving and preventing crime is a cooperative effort between the community, law enforcement and the media. The community acts as the eyes and ears for law enforcement. The community relies on law enforcement to take action against criminals. Both law enforcement and the community rely on the media to spread the word about crime trends or publicize information on wanted criminals.

BAGHDAD — Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki edged ahead Sunday in a tight race in the country’s parliamentary elections after partial results from all of Iraq’s 18 provinces showed his bloc leading in seven — two more than his chief rival.

EGG HARBOR CITY, N.J. — Last month, the Northeast was smothered by blizzards. Now, it’s waterlogged by torrential rains.

THE WOODLANDS – A specially formed group of community-minded citizens is making an effort to improve Montgomery County – both now and in the future.

While one candidate has publicly claimed that Montgomery County jail inmates are released early because of overcrowding, his opponent is saying that’s not the case – and so is Sheriff Tommy Gage.

Negotiations over the San Jacinto River Authority’s proposed Groundwater Reduction Plan contract will continue, even though SJRA officials say “serious disagreements” have arisen in their talks with the city of Conroe.

OAK RIDGE NORTH – While U.S. House Republicans likely won’t vote for a health care reform bill, Rep. Kevin Brady, R-The Woodlands, believes it’s Democrats who will keep the bill from passing.

After weeks of fines adding up, an animal lover will be able to keep advertising against euthanizing dogs and cats.

District 1 (North County) • Deputies arrested a 43-year-old Willis woman for driving while intoxicated when they were sent to the area of FM 2432 and FM 1485 March 6 because a vehicle had been seen swerving on the road and running other vehicles off the road. They made a traffic stop in the 12100 block of FM 2432 and one of the deputies noticed a strong odor of alcohol emanating from the driver. She attempted several field sobriety tests, but could not finish any. After she was arrested and taken to the Montgomery County Jail, it was learned she had been convicted twice before for DWI. Her charge was enchanced to DWI, third or more, a third-degree felony charge.

Graduate: Air Force Airman Megan N. Winters graduated from basic military training at Lackland Air Force Base, San Antonio, Texas.

Marilynn Marchione ATLANTA — Stock market slides may hurt more than your savings. New research suggests they might prompt heart attacks.

KANDAHAR, Afghanistan — A suicide squad detonated bombs at a newly fortified prison, police headquarters and two other locations late Saturday, killing at least 30 people in the largest city of the southern Taliban heartland.

WARSAW, Poland — Vandals sprayed anti-Semitic graffiti on Holocaust memorials at a former Nazi concentration camp in Poland, desecration that authorities discovered Saturday and are investigating.

WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama says he wants projects helping specific states yanked from the health care bill Congress is writing. Democratic senators, being senators, beg to differ.

Leanne Italie NEW YORK — Turning clocks ahead for spring is a ritual some people love to hate . We’re groggy. Our kids are cranky. While sitting better than fall’s theft of afternoon daylight, still we grumble. Does anybody have anything nice to say about Daylight Saving Time?

John McFarland DALLAS — As census forms begin arriving in mailboxes this week, federal workers tasked with counting humans in the nation’s second-most populous state face their usual Texas challenge: how to account for immigrants who’d rather not be noticed.

ATLANTA — President Barack Obama on Saturday unveiled his plan to improve the U.S. educational system by rewarding schools that make progress rather than punishing those that don’t, as he looks to help American students make up for academic ground lost against youngsters in other countries.

LIBERTY COUNTY – Early Tuesday morning, the relative silence of the Woodland Hills subdivision in Dayton was broken by the sound of gunshots as 49-year-old Rickey Juneau got into an exchange of gunfire with Liberty County sheriff’s Deputies Jeremy Marcantel, 32, and Rex Evans, 40.

A federal grand jury has indicted three men accused of defrauding investors of millions in publicly traded stock for Grifco International Inc., authorities said.